Game apparatus.



F H. COOK.

GAME APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APR.27,1908.

917,254. Patented Apr. 6, 1909.

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FRANCIS H. COOK, OF BUCKEYE, WASHINGTON.

GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 6, 1909.

Application filed April 2'7, 1908. Serial No. 429,533.

eye, in the county of Spokane and State of.

ashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in game apparatus and has for its object the provision of a game board embodying a novel construction whereby it both produces amusement and assists in training the eye and hand.

The invention further contemplates a game board which is simple and inexpensive in its construction and which may be used by one or more persons as desired.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a game board constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the same on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fi 2.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followin description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The game board which is indicated at 1 may be formed of any suitable material although in the present instance it is shown as stamped from a single blank of sheet metal. Projecting from an intermediate point upon one end of the board. is a handle or fingerpiece 2 while the opposite end of the board is provided upon its lower face with a longitu inally dis osed groove 3 loosely receiving the ridge at t 1e upper end of a sup ort 4, the said support being formed by oubling a strip of sheet material upon itself. It will thus be obvious that the game board can be tilted longitudinally by raising and lowering the handle 2 and that it may also be tilted laterally by swinging the board from side to side about the support 4. Extending along the longitudinal edges of the board 1 and the pivot end thereof is a depression 5 and arranged exterior of this depression is a guard flange 6 which extends upwardly above the board and tends to prevent a ball 7 upon the board from rolling off of the same. A depression 8 located at the pivot end of the board constitutes the goal toward which the ball 7 is rolled, a series of barriers being interposed in the path of the ball between the goal and the starting point 9 which is located at the opposite end of the game board.

Located upon the upper surface of the board toward the end thereof provided with the handle 2 are a plurality disposed ribs 10 which are arranged alternately with respect to each other and extend inwardly from the side grooves 5. The end or outermost rib 10 has the end portion thereof curved at 10 immediately in front of the starting point 9 so that the ball in its initial movement must roll rearwardly around the end of the rib. The ball is then caused to roll successively around the ends of the remaining ribs 10 and between the same, the said ribs being suitably spaced for this purpose and terminating at a distance from the grooves 5 so that the ball can pass around the extremities thereof without the necessity of entering the grooves. After passing around the last rib 10 the object of the player is to cause the ball to pass between the extremities of two ribs 11 extending inwardly from the longitudinal grooves 5, a pocket 12 being disposed between the ribs and a sufficient space for the passage of the ball being provided between the pocket and each of the ribs. Located opposite the space between these two ribs 11 is a transverse rib 13 having the extremities thereof curved rearwardly toward the pivot end of the board and each extremity terminating in a U-shaped rib 14. These two U-shaped ribs 14 face toward opposite sides of the board and a sufficient space is provided between the same and the grooves 5 so that the ball may be caused to enter the spaces within the U-shaped ribs without rolling off into the said grooves. A third U-shaped rib 15 opening toward the swinging end of the board which is provided with the handle 2 is disposed between the two U-shaped ribs 14 and slightly to the rear of the same and after bringing the ball into the space within one of the U-shaped ribs 14 the object of the player is to tilt the board and cause the ball to roll into the space back of the transversely curved rib 13 and thence into the space within the U-shaped rib 15. It will also be observed that a pocket 16 is arranged between the U-shaped rib 15 and the transversely curved Jib 13 and this pocket must be avoided by the player since of transversely a goal 8.

, the pockets except at the goal 8 which may should the ball enter the same he. loses his. turn. The ultimate object of the player is to so manipulate the board as to cause the ball to pass from the U-shaped rib 15 to the Various numerals 17 are marked upon the surface of the board at different points in the path to be followed by the ball 7 and in using the board the same is tilted upon the sup porting post 4 by suitably manipulating the handle 2 so as to cause the ball to move from the starting point 9 to the goal 8 along the path previously designated. This must be done without crossing the ribs or entering be termed the north pole. Should the ball enter either of the side grooves 5 or either of the pockets 12 or 16 the player loses his turn with the right to claim the number of points indicated by the last one of the numerals 17 which the ball reached. However, should the ball cross over one of the ribs or roll off the board or enter the end groove 5 the player fails to score even a single point.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a ame apparatus, the combination of a tiltable board. which is provided with side grooves and also with a goal, a series of transverse ribs which extend alternately from opposite side grooves, one of the transverse ribs being curved to provide a starting point,'and a ball movable upon the board by tilting the same and adapted to pass around tilting the same-and adapted to enter the space inclosed by one of the Ushaped ribs in its passage to the goal.

3. In a game apparatus, the combination of a tiltable board formed with side grooves and a transverse groove connecting the side grooves at one end of the board, a goal being provided at one end of the board and a starting point at the opposite end, a series of trans Verse ribs which extend alternately from the opposite side grooves, a plurality of U-shaped 5 ribs, and a ball movable upon the board by tilting the same, the said ball being adapted to roll from the starting point to the goal and to pass around the ends of the transverse ribs and between the same and also to enter selected ones of the U-shaped ribs in its passage.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS H. COOK. Witnesses ED B. POWELL, SILAs W. 000K. 

